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The first half of 2019 has, in many ways, mitigated the utility of Apple TV. Earlier this year, we learned that smart TVs would support AirPlay 2 and HomeKit, which were previously exclusive to Apple's set-top device. Then, more recently, Apple has launched a brand new TV application that will also be broadcast on smart TVs and third-party broadcast keys. As a result of these announcements, it was unclear whether Apple would simply let Apple TV become even more of a niche product than before or whether the company would redouble its efforts to differentiate it from the new competition. It turns out that the latter was true – at least to some extent.
tvOS 13 is perhaps the most important update of the Apple TV software since the beginning of tvOS in 2015. That does not say much because the previous updates have been relatively poor, but that says a lot about Apple's commitment to the Apple TV platform. This latest version of tvOS, combined with the redesigned TV application that arrived last month, is a strong argument for Apple finally taking television seriously, especially in the run-up to the launch of the Apple TV +.
The latest version of tvOS begins with an updated home screen, which includes a Control Center pane, and adds including multi-user features, as well as extended support for game controllers, as well as some other upgrades.
Updated Home Screen
The new tvOS 13 home screen is not a radical change from what was previously available, but it's a little different at a glance. The same grid of icons is present, but now the top row of applications is visually separated into its own floating panel that Apple calls a dock. As before, dock applications can use special privileges to display content of any type, but now this content extends to a larger part of the screen and developers can even use the top shelf to load videos from the highlighted application, without ever leaving the home screen. Developers can still use the top shelf for a sectioned content line, as they used to; Netflix is a popular example of this type of implementation.
In addition to improvements to the top dock and tablet, the main addition to the new home screen is the Control Center, which can be inserted on the right side of the screen as on the Mac. The Control Center hosts frequently used commands, such as Sleep, AirPlay, Search, and current playback data. it is also one of the key elements of tvOS 13: multi-user support.
Multi-user support
tvOS 13 allows different family members to experience a bespoke experience while using the Apple TV. Each user can have his own customized Up Up queue in the TV application, his own Apple Music collection in Music, and so on. This feature works especially well when it is associated with the TV channel's feature channels, since channel content is compatible with family sharing, so that every family member can enjoy channels with a single subscription.
As I mentioned, the fastest way to change the user is the Control Center, which you can access not only from the home screen, but even at inside applications.
Game Controllers and Apple Arcade
One of the biggest missed opportunities of Apple TV has been its mediocre gaming ecosystem. Although games have long supported the use of an external Bluetooth controller on the platform, games on Apple TV have simply never grown. However, Apple has another chance, as the company launches its Apple Arcade subscription service this fall, which will include support for the game in the tvOS 13 Arcade app. While the company does not manufacture its own dedicated controller At tvOS, the next best thing to do is to support two of the world's most popular game controllers. The PlayStation DualShock 4 controller and the Xbox Wireless controller will be compatible with tvOS 13, and it's a safe bet that most, if not all Apple Arcade titles, will support them.
Everything else
Underwater screensavers. The screensavers continue to be one of the best features of tvOS, despite the stupidity that may appear. While last year tvOS had added screen savers turned in the space, this year 's screen savers are ending up under water. The BBC's natural history unit is associated with Apple to produce underwater screensavers in 4K HDR format.
Apple Music Live lyrics. I rarely use Apple Music on my TV, but Apple now gives me a new reason: the lyrics can now be displayed on screen in sync with the music you are listening to. The interface for this is particularly nice, ideal for evening out or even for a karaoke party.
I am delighted to see that tvOS is generating a little love in a year in which the TV application has already undergone a major overhaul. This was an unexpected surprise for WWDC, especially considering that tvOS 13 introduces multi-user support, a feature that does not yet exist on older, more important platforms like the iPad. Support for the PS4 and Xbox One S wireless controllers is another exciting change, as it gives me hope that, with Apple Arcade, the game may still have a life on Apple TV.
You can also track all of our WWDC coverage via our 2019 WWDC hub or subscribe to the WWDC 2019 dedicated RSS feed.
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